Peppermint oil-infused polylactic acid films: A novel approach for antimicrobial and biodegradable food packaging

Extensive research is currently dedicated to creating biodegradable packaging materials that match the qualities of traditional synthetic packaging materials. Among these options, polylactic acid (PLA) is noteworthy. PLA is a renewable-source-derived thermoplastic polymer with excellent barrier properties, mechanical strength, and a strong safety profile. To enhance food product shelf life, active packaging materials, incorporating functional ingredients like antimicrobials, have gained prominence. Peppermint essential oil is one such active ingredient, offering potential improvements in preserving food freshness and safety. This study's objective is to craft antimicrobial, biodegradable food packaging materials by blending peppermint oil into PLA films. Various peppermint oil concentrations (1.25%, 1.875%, and 2.5% w/v) were blended with PLA to assess their impact on opacity, water vapor permeability (WVP), mechanical and thermal properties, and antimicrobial characteristics. Higher peppermint oil concentrations increased opacity, making them advantageous for light-sensitive food items. These films reduced WVP without affecting PLA's thermal stability. Antimicrobial effectiveness was evaluated against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), showing inhibition with 1.875% and 2.5% w/v peppermint oil concentrations. Compared to control, PLA films with peppermint oil extended the shelf life of packaged chicken breast meats from 3 to 8 days. As a result, incorporating peppermint oil into PLA films presents a promising solution for advanced antimicrobial and biodegradable food packaging. Highlights: The incorporation of peppermint oil resulted in higher opacity values. Peppermint incorporated PLA films showed antimicrobial activity. Peppermint oil addition decreased water vapor permeability of PLA films. Peppermint oil added PLA films increased the shelf life of chicken meat up to 8 days

Evaluation of the Triglyceride Glucose Index as a Marker of Insulin Resistance in Adults with Isolated Impaired Glucose Tolerance

Purpose: By analyzing long-term laboratory data, we aim to evaluate the relationship between the TyG and Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) in the adult population with isolated impaired fasting glucose (IFG), and also to determine the cut off value of The triglyceride (TG) to glucose index (TyG) to estimate the IR in our population. Materials and Methods: In this study, data were evaluated retrospectively from medical records. Fasting glucose, lipid panel [Total cholesterol, TG, High-density lipoprotein (HDL), Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)] and insulin levels were analyzed with commercially reagents. (Roche Cobas C701, Roche Diagnostic, Germany). High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) method was used for hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) (Lifotronic H9, Lifotrophic Technology, China). TyG, HOMA-IR, and TG/HDLcholesterol were calculated. IR was defined as HOMA-IR ≥2.5. Results: A total of 440 subject, (controls: 230 and IFG:210), were included in our study. The average age of the subjects was 42.5±12.0 years and 44.7±10.7 years for IFG and control, respectively. Glucose, total cholesterol, TG, LDL-cholesterol, insulin, HbA1c, TG/HDL-cholesterol, HOMA-IR, and TyG were significantly higher in the IFG group (p<0.001). There was a weak but significant correlation between HOMA-IR and the TyG (r=0.210, p=0.009). In the ROC analysis, the AUC for HOMA-IR and the TyG, respectively was 0.867 (95% CI, 0.833-0.900, p<0.001) and 0.708 (95% CI, 0.659-0.758, p<0.001). Conclusions: In our study, the TyG is proposed as a relatively accurate, simple, easily accessible, and low-cost marker for IR evaluation with IFG patients. However, population-based studies with higher patient participation are needed for future studies

Early stages of fat crystallisation evaluated by low‐field NMR and small‐angle X‐ray scattering

Low‐field time‐domain nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR; 20 MHz) is commonly used in the studies of fats in the form of solid fat content (SFC) measurements. However, it has the disadvantage of low sensitivity to small amounts of crystalline material (0.5%), thus often incorrectly determining crystallisation induction times. From spin–lattice relaxation rate measurements (R1) during the isothermal crystallisation measurements of cocoa butter between 0.01 and 10 MHz using fast field cycling NMR, we learnt previously that the most sensitive frequency region is below 1 MHz. Thus, we focused on analysing our 10‐kHz data in detail, by observing the time dependence of R1 and comparing it with standard SFCNMR and SFC determinations from small‐angle X‐ray scattering (SFCSAXS). Although not reflecting directly the SFC, the R1 at this low frequency is very sensitive to changes in molecular aggregation and hence potentially serving as an alternative for determination of crystallisation induction times. Alongside R1, we also show that SFCSAXS is more sensitive to early stages of crystallisation, that is, standard SFCNMR determinations become more relevant when crystal growth starts to dominate the crystallisation process but fail to pick up earlier crystallisation steps. This paper thus demonstrates the potential of studying triacylglycerols at frequencies below 1 MHz for obtaining further understanding of the early crystallisation stages of fats and presents an alternative and complementary method to estimate SFC by SAXS

İLKÖĞRETİM 7. SINIF FEN VE TEKNOLOJİ DERSİNDE VÜCUDUMUZDAKİ SİSTEMLER KONUSUNUNDA İSBİRLİKLİ ÖĞRENME YÖNTEMİNİ KULLANMANIN AKADEMİK BASARI ÜZERİNE ETKİSİ

Bu arastırmada, isbirlikli öğretim yöntemi doğrultusunda düzenlenen öğretimin ilköğretim 7. Sınıf öğrencilerinin Fen ve Teknoloji dersindeki akademik basarısına etkisi olup olmadığı arastırılmıstır. Arastırma 2009 2010 öğretim yılı 1. Yarıyılında, Ardahan ili Damal ilçesi Cumhurbaskanı Süleyman Demirel İlköğretim Okulunda gerçeklestirilmistir. Deney grubunda 21, kontrol grubunda 23 öğrenci olmak üzere 44 öğrenci arastırma grubunda yer almıstır. Çalısma 8 hafta sürmüstür. Gruplar öğrencilerin hazır bulunusluk düzeylerine göre esitlenmistir. Dersler deney grubunda isbirlikli öğrenme yöntemine göre, kontrol grubunda ise öğretmen merkezli geleneksel öğretime göre hazırlanan ders planları ile gerçeklestirilmistir. Deney ve kontrol gruplarına Fen ve Teknoloji Basarı Testi öntest ve sontest olarak kullanılmıstır. Arastırma süresince basarı testinden elde edilen verilerin, aritmetik ortalama ve standart sapma değerleri betimsel olarak verildikten sonra, kovaryans analizleri yapılmıstır. Sonuç olarak Fen ve Teknoloji Basarı testi son test puanları açısından, isbirlikli öğrenme yönteminin uygulandığı deney grubunun basarı son test puanlarının aritmetik ortalaması öğretmen merkezli geleneksel öğretimin uygulandığı kontrol grubunun basarı son test puanlarından çok az yüksek olmasına karsın deney grubu lehine anlamlı farklılık bulunmustur

Transversus Abdominis Plane Block and Nursing Care

Transversus abdominis plan bloğu, ameliyat sonrası dönem ağrı kontrolünde, kullanılmaya başlanangüncel bir bölgesel anestezi yöntemidir. Yapılan çalışmalarda, abdominal cerrahi girişimlersonrası uygulanan transversus abdominis plan bloğunun, analjezi sağlamada etkili olduğu bulunmuştur.Bu uygulama, ultrasonografi eşliğinde ya da kör teknikle, karın duvarının anterolateralbölgesindeki boşluğa lokal anestezik madde enjeksiyonu yapılarak gerçekleştirilir. İşlem sırası vesonrasında abdominal organ yaralanması, yüksek doz lokal anestetik madde uygulaması sonucuilaç toksisitesi gibi komplikasyonlar açısından dikkatli olunmalıdır. Transversus abdominis planblok uygulaması, özellikle ameliyat sonrası akut dönemde ağrı oluşumunu engellediği için hastakonforunu sağlayan önemli ve güncel bir girişimdir. Hemşirelik bakımında uygulanan girişimler iseeğitim, tanılama, izlem, kayıt tutma, katater bakımı, pansumanların yapılması ve kontrolü olaraksıralanabilmektedir. Yapılan hemşirelik girişimleri ile uygulanan transversus abdominis plan bloğunundeğerlendirilmesi, izlenmesi ve dökümantasyonu kurumlar arasında farklılık gösterebilmektedir.Bu derlemede, cerrahi girişim sonrası olası ağrının etkili yönetiminde bilinen bir yaklaşım olaraktransversus abdominis plan bloğu uygulaması ve bu uygulamanın öncesi, sırası ve sonrası dönemlerindebireyin hemşirelik bakımının aşamaları ve önemi vurgulanmıştır.Transversus abdominis plane block is a new method of regional anesthesia that is started to be_x000D_ used for postoperative pain control. In the studies performed, it was found that the transversus_x000D_ abdominis plane block applied after abdominal surgery ensured effective analgesia. This procedure_x000D_ is performed by ultrasound-guided or blunt technique by injecting a local anesthetic into the_x000D_ cavity in the anterolateral region of the abdominal wall. Care should be taken in terms of complications_x000D_ such as abdominal organ injury during, and after procedure, high toxicity of local anesthetic_x000D_ drug Transversus abdominis plane block application is an important and current attempt to_x000D_ provide patient comfort, especially since it prevents occurence of pain in the acute postoperative_x000D_ period. The nursing care interventions can be listed as education, assessment, monitoring, documentation,_x000D_ catheter and dressing care and control. The evaluation, monitoring and documentation_x000D_ of the transversus abdominis plane block implemented with established nursing interventions_x000D_ may differ between institutions._x000D_ In this review, transversus abdominis plane block application as a common approach in the effective_x000D_ management of possible pain after surgical intervention and the steps and importance of_x000D_ nursing care of the individual before, during, and after this application have been emphasized

Information Sources of Bariatric Surgical Patients Who Are Internet Users: Perception of Effectiveness and Reliability

Background: Patient education is integral to bariatric surgical programs. With increasing accessibility to the internet, patients now use online sources to obtain information, which raises concern about the reliability of content presented in these sources. This study aimed to evaluate online information sources that bariatric patients use and determine patients' perceived effectiveness and reliability concerning these sources.Methods: The study was conducted with 125 patients who had undergone bariatric surgery for the first time within the past 6 months. Data were obtained through an online survey form.Results: Most patients reported that they were informed by health care professionals, and mostly by physicians. The respondents reported that they mostly used Facebook (86%), and 74% indicated that they used internet applications because they trusted other patients' experiences. Although 82% of the participants were selective in terms of online sources to which they referred for information, 62% considered that social media could be used to obtain information.Conclusions: Although most patients were informed by health care professionals, patients mostly sought online information and trusted internet sources. Patients should be made aware of the importance of trustworthy information, and internet resources should be incorporated into the patient education process to provide reliable information for patients

Precautions taken by nurses about the prevention of Hospital-Acquired Infections in Intensive Care Units

Objective: To determine the precautions that nurses take for avoiding hospital-acquired infections in intensive care units of a State University Medical Faculty Hospital in Istanbul. Methods: The research data were collected by a questionnaire developed by the authors. The study was conducted in intensive care units of a medical faculty hospital of a state university in Istanbul province. 85 nurses working in different various intensive care units and providing informed consent participated in the study. Results: Intravenous catheterization, urinary catheterization, ventilator-associated infections and surgical site infections were assessed. The questionnaire was scored by applying a conversion of 100 to the total scores obtained, with the highest score being 100 and lowest score being 0. The percentage of nurses that practised all of the approaches about preventing hospital-acquired infections was estimated to be 8.2% for catheter- related bloodstream infections, 67.1% for surgical site infections, 72.9% for catheter- associated urinary tract infections, 27.1% for ventilator-associated infections, 29.4% for isolation preventions and 62.5% for attempts related to sterilization/disinfection of the medical devices. Conclusion: It was seen that nurses use most of the effective measures in order to prevent hospital-acquired infections. The guidelines generated for intensive care units should be updated according to international standards as needed. These guidelines should be used effectively; the differences between intensive care units should be resolved and all nurses should be trained at certain intervals